3D models of truck chassis?

Hi all,
I'm not a user of Autocad or really any 3D stuff, but as a graphic
artist, I know who to ask for help.
I'm also a backyard hotrod builder and have a project that is at a point

where I need to cut & join halves of two different chassis. One is a
1988 Toyota 4x4 1/2 ton PU and the other is a 1950 Willys 4x4 Wagon.
What are your suggestions for finding someone who can measure the frames
I have and make 3D renderings of them so I can get nice accurate options
of where to make my cuts & other considerations (like gas tank
placement, etc). I was thinking some local trade school, but they might
not get around to doing something along those lines in a classroom
setting for months. I don't have the kind of money that I'm guessing it
would take to hire a mechanical engineer to do this professionally, so
any ideas where I could turn are greatly appreciated. If anyone here is
in southern Wisconsin, I'll buy beer & pizza if you want to give it a
whack. I'm not looking for mil-spec, just reasonably accurate 3D models
of 2 frames that I can overlay each other and see where crossover points
might be to speed things up as well as having detailed documentation of
how this particular build was done (possibly to help others). I guess I
could completely strip both chassis in my driveway (major mess) and
physically lay one on top of the other, but I'd prefer to do it on my PC
if I could. I don't need full chassis Autocads or anything, just the
frames themselves. I'm sure Toyota has 3d models of their stuff, but I
doubt they freely share them with anyone. Thanks for reading this far!
Cheers,
- Jeff G
http://jeffgross.com/willys

Jeff
Do you have access to a digital camera or a scanner?
If so just take pictures, try to keep the scale constant although it can be
changed in software.
Then take the prints and mark some major dimensions on them for reference.
i.e axle center lines and distances to crossmembers from the axles etc. You
can then just play with them in a graphics program, or if you have Autocad
you can load the picture as one layer and then trace the outline for your
Aced model. I have used this approach with success ( the graphics package).
I did have to make several trips to the shop for additional measurements but
it worked.

I have just did this kind of thing
I put the front frame and engine out of a chev 4x4 to the rear half of
a 68 international
How I ended up doing it is with both frames side by side and a
measuring tape and pad and pencil
it is perfect wheel base and perfect hight by ajusting rear end hight
to do it right your going to have to remove the frames anyways
so just forget the computer and just do it!

As a Mechanical Designer with loads of 3D experience, I have to agree
with John. The ONLY justification for 3D Modeling is for more built-in
options down the road for production equipment (with the exception of
REALLY sloppy, inaccurate eye candy for the "suits" or video games and
such).
As for me, I would whip out a 2D layout on Autocad. The only reason
that I like CAD layouts over paper is the option of turning off layers
with stuff that you aren't worried about at a particular moment.
A warning- Most CAD jockies these days are just interested in quicky
making something that looks representitive. Accuracy means absolutely
nothing to them. If you invest in a bad model, you will only have an
unreliable mess.

Log in

Motorsforum.com is a website by car enthusiasts for car enthusiasts. It is not affiliated with any of the car or spare part manufacturers or car dealers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.